Access to a secure blood supply based on voluntary unpaid donation is vital for all patients, including many requiring life-long and regular transfusions for conditions such as sickle-cell anemia and thalassemia. In some countries of our Region, more than half of the blood donations are used for thalassemia patients. Voluntary unpaid plasma donations also play an important part in supporting patients with a wide range of long-term conditions, such as hemophilia and immune deficiencies. Regional Blood Centre DUHS is the product of the dedication and passion of Dow University Hospital and its management, in delivering quality blood for patient care. The RBC DUHS aims to deliver safe blood to the masses maintaining a cold chain throughout its transport.

The blood bank of Dow University of Health Sciences was established in 2003 and serving as a hospital blood bank with facilities for blood collection, basic serology including blood grouping and compatibility testing only, and blood screening for transfusion-transmitted infections through CLIA and NAT. Blood was issued on a 100% replacement basis. With the help of the government of Sindh, in the year 2022, this blood bank was upgraded as Regional Blood Centre DUHS in phase II of the National Safe Blood Transfusion Program, funded by the German Development Bank. There will be four associated hospital blood banks which will be managed by RBC DUHS for safe blood supply.

BACKGROUND OF PROJECT

With the efforts of the government of Sindh, in the year 2022, this blood bank was upgraded as Regional Blood Centre DUHS in phase II of the National Safe Blood Transfusion Program, funded by the German Development Bank. There will be four associated hospital blood banks which will be managed by RBC DUHS for safe blood supply.

At RBC DUHS, processes and procedures based on standard guidelines, are followed to prepare and test blood components. A strict cold chain is maintained and monitored from the vein of donor to the vein of recipient. The donor selection and collection process is meticulous to minimize transfusion-related infections. All blood products undergo defined tests for HIV, Hepatitis B (HBsAg) and Anti HCV along with Antibodies for Syphilis on CLIA. Malaria screening is performed by Immune chromatographic technique. All the donor samples are later tested individually for NAT (Nucleic Acid Testing).

Blood Centre DUHS is now an active member of ICCBBA (International Council for Commonality in Blood Banking Automation) and is functional with Blood Bank Management Information System. This particular software operates on ISBT 128 standards. ISBT 128 is the global standard for the terminology, identification, coding, and labeling of medical products of human origin (including blood, cell, tissue, milk, and organ products), provides 100% traceability of the blood unit. This seamless and paperless workflow enables the blood center to be able to deal with large volumes of blood safely. The system enables RBC DUHS for a timely, city-wide supply of blood and blood products. Blood components include, red blood cells, platelets, fresh frozen plasma and cryoprecipitate, cryosupernatant, pediatric aliquots and other modified blood products are available for supply in different hospital blood banks.